The Thinker Challenge

Chapter 17: Drawing the line

Sio and Mycroft sit across from each other at a park, playing chess. Her hair is tied up tightly in a bun. He is scanning the board.

“Best of five?” He suggests.

“I told you, I don’t particularly like chess. Its like running on a treadmill.”

“But that’s when you were up against computers programs. The human element adds a bit of drama, don't you think?”

“Are you calling yourself human?” She shoots back.

They begin to play, quickly. Within a few minutes, Mycroft takes the first game.

“You’re not concentrating,” he observes with genuine disappointment.

“Or, perhaps I am unhappy with the games you’ve already played?”

They resume playing as they talk.

“As I’ve explained, it is imperative for global security to delay that technology as long as possible.”

“I have read all of the submissions. What’s to stop me from developing it myself?”

“Need you ask?” Mycroft asks. He looks down at the board, “Check mate. Again.”

“I'm quite sure the NSA would jump on my pitch. I’ve always fancied working for NASA anyway,” Sio counters.

Mycroft had been expecting this and had prepared accordingly. “As it happens, you are currently on the no-fly list. Your passport will be confiscated if you attempt to leave the country.”

“Are you joking?” She asks, honestly incredulous.

“I am afraid not, my dear. A necessary evil,” he says shaking his head.

“All this because I chose your brother?” she blurts, feeling the blood rush to her cheeks. She scans the board. “Check mate. Two games to one.”

“You can’t possibly believe this has anything to do with my brother,” Mycroft scoffs.

“What about the flowers?”

He knew that was a mistake – sending her an anonymous bouquet when she had been in the hospital.  That was back when he thought she was a normal woman. He dismisses this with a hand wave. “Despite appearances, I do believe my brother has feelings buried deep inside his sociopathic tendencies and I have to wonder if now that this business is done with, you could just back away?”

“I do not understand the problem,” Sio insists.

“My brother and I have our differences for sure, but I do feel some responsibility for him. I’m afraid he is rather naïve when it comes to relationships and despite his considerable gifts, may not be able to adequately protect himself.”

“Protect himself from what? From me?”

“Come now, you are using him.”

Sio contemplates this for a long moment. In the meantime, she finishes the next game. Two to two. She pulls the clip out of her hair, letting it fall to her shoulders.

“I may have been advised that being in a relationship would improve my chances of being selected for the space program and perhaps also soften my image to the Nobel committee. And since Sherlock is the only person on this earth that I could conceive of having a relationship with, I chose to be with him. How is that not romantic?”

“I was referring to the prize money,” he replies, shaking his head.

Sio laughs. “You think I started sleeping with him to get to you?”

“Of course.”

“I think I could have gotten to you quite easily on my own,” she responds, contemplating the board a bit more closely that before.

Mycroft shifts in his seat uncomfortably.

“Do you wish to call a draw?”

“What?” He frowns deeply at the board.

“Stalemate.”

*